The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-10-05

q season is triillng. and 1t seems to me
Very slight concession to make FOR peace and
exemption from damage. l believe most
lads are naturally right-ininded, when you
can really get to their hearts. and I'd rather
have them for my friends than my enemies
especially in apple time. And then m
not ashamed TO say tat l used to be boy
myself, and that l have never quite got
over it. Yes, like to see the little fellows
happy; and if a few apples now and then
will make the world brighter to them, GER
tainly am not the man to refuse.
All sentimental stuff, Mr.. Norris. My
apples are my own property: don t choose
TO give them away, and won't submit any
longer to have them stolen. l shall get 8
savage bulldog to guard them; and II that
won't work LII set 4 sp-ing-gun
I'm very sorry YOU feel so on the sub
lect. The law VIII not justly you III sucn
extreme measureS-surely not Ill using tre.
arms or sprlng-gunS.
But I Il do it'll be Hanged if don't
And Mr.. Peck laid his whip emphatically
over tie lacks OF his unoHending horses
and went on.
Mr.. Peck was man whose vindict!ve
feelings would at any time overbalance his
Judgment. aud he now proceeded without
DELAY to fulfill his threats. 1t is perhaps
unnecessary TO say that this story describes
bows not as they ought to be, but as they
we're in tie neiehborhood where lis scene
is located. The apple crop was super
abundant hat fall. and the well-known arc
highly appreciated indulgence of Mr. Nor
ris was sufficient to furnish all the frui;
that the juveniles could desire; but because
old Peck had driven them harshly away
they were not satisfied short OF eating
has apples IL the convention held al
recess he was unanimously voted "a stinSy
old hunks. and It was determ ned that his
orchard should be robbed. Tae attempt
wass made one dark night soon after tue
conversation We have detailed. y dozen
bows Of from twelve to fifteen years
secretly left their beds, and assembling
near Mr.. Peck'S orchard, silently scaled
the high wall and btSln their foray. II
had hardly ommencei when deep srowI
from the d stance warned tl.em OF lmpend-
ing danger. TIE retreat was hasiv. but
successful; one of the boys suffering
severe Bit in the calf OK the leg rs he
mounted tie wall. 1t may be added that
the same boy endured some Of the pa rs
OF martyrlom in the next week, while res
olu,eli keeping the knowledge of this
occurrence from his parents.
Two davS after this occurrence Nj.
Feck'S ferocioas dog was found dead. He
had Gean poisoned.
The rage OF the owner was unbounded.
He called at the school and emptled the
vials o; lis wrath: but the master informed
him that the case was clearly one for par
entail disc cplice-provlded he could find
the guilty parties. He then visited every
home that sent boy to school, and de-
manded the summary punishment OF that
boy. Mr.. Peck was hardly more favorlte
with the grown-up people Of the nelghbor-
hood than with the boys; but this was
serious matter, and an investigation was
made to find the culprits. It IS unneces-
sary to say that they were no. found. Boys
who will do the things that l have de-
scribed will never hesitate to cover up theli
tracks by lying; and SO 1t was here.
Money was flowing into Mr.. Pecks
hands for the products of his orchard; sc
long as he felt that 8 single apple
was being taken without payment, he was
bound to be miserable. His next resort
was srring-gun, which he risged up one
nose from fnd It thas ng 9 a&See him.
rushed out. only to lind the gun demol,
ished and useless. 1t afterward transplred
that the operation OF setting 1t had been
watched BY some interested parties through
a chink in the wall.
For one whole week following did Mr..
Peck lie in wait each night for the thieves:
and he did not see one OF them. There was
at leas: one old head upon Young shout
ders among the offenders, and the word
had been passed round that the orchard
must not be molested again until the pro
prietor had sufficient time to cool or.
That unhappy proprietor was enraged, DIS
custed and mystiied. He had tried every
remedy but on for the evils that attilctec
him. and to this one he now resorted WITH
reluctance. Whatis was will appear further
on.
1t was moonlight night when the boys
next made an incursion into Mr.. Pecks
orchard. They filed their pockets witt
the fruit, they ate more than they wanted
and then they proceeded to hang mp to
limb an effigy of the owner, which they hac
brought along with great trouble and diff
Guilty. 1t was after midnight when they
were safe in the highway again, ana tAer
their mirthful mood was somewhat dis.
turbed by the near approach Of horse anc
buggy.
"Ha!loo, boys" cried familiar voice.
What going on? Nothing wrong. ]
hone..'
The Young culprits hung their heads
in silence = not afraid. but thoroughly
ashamed, for the speaker was their kind
friend, Mr. Norris.
i don't like the looks of this. boys" he
said. stopping his horse. This night
business IS always bad: and how Is 1t. wien
I have alwavs been willing for yon to come
freely to my orchard and help yourselves,
that you find any pleasure IL going where
YOU are forbiGden:"
One very young gentleman attempted IN
answer, b@t his voice was so low that only
tie words 'stnSv old Peck were audible.
Well" said Mr.. Norris, preparing to
drive OF. 4 am very sorry to lind you
en.aged in this way, after all that has
passed between us. And perhaps it wont
make YOU feel arr better 20 learn that YOU
have not been robbing Mr.. PcckS o:cEad
ut all. this time: you have been robblEe
me. | bought tlis property Yesterday, ana
took pos session; and It's la:e owner would
not care il YOU had taken away every apple
lef; in it tonight.
He drove away, leaving a very sorry and
re!,enta.t Let OF boys standing there.
Their sorrow and self-accusation were OF
more than momentary duration; then
Young cons.iences were touched. aud on
the following day they all waited on
Mr. Norris, and very awkward!y,
but still with genuine feeling,
begged his pardon. The occasion
was one that The kind-hearted man did not
fail to improve, and his earnest words
brought home very powerfully to the
abashed Youngsters tie great truth that
wrong doing. at some time and III some
way, alvavs br;n-s its own punishment.